(Newser)
–
A high school band's halftime performance showing police being held at gunpoint is fueling anger in a Mississippi city dealing with the recent killings of two officers, the AP reports. Pictures of the Forest Hill High School band's performance that circulated on social media (see a photo at WLBT). Saturday show students dressed as medical personnel holding SWAT team members at gunpoint as the band played. The performance took place Friday at a football game between Forest Hill and Brookhaven High School, just days after two Brookhaven police were killed by a suspect. The officers, James White, 35, and Zach Moak, 31, were responding to shots at a house when they were gunned down Sept. 29, per USA Today.

Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Errick Greene apologized in a statement and said the skit was "loosely" based on a movie that had a hostage scene and was not intended to depict "people in our community." The school district "has a great deal of respect and appreciation for our law enforcement partners," Greene says, per WLBT. "The band's performance does not depict the values and people in our community, and was incredibly insensitive to the students, families, law enforcement officials and the entire Brookhaven community." Government officials, including Governor Phil Bryant, released statements condemning the performance. "This is unacceptable in a civilized society," Bryant tweeted. "Someone should be held accountable." The band director has been suspended, per WJTV.